Driving in the UK - Scary ???

Question: Does anyone have any tips on living in Europe, we are off to England for a couple of years, I have heard that driving can be quite scary, should I sign up with a driving school? -- Rachel Smyth 

Answer: Dear Rachel, Driving on the “wrong” side of the road can indeed be worrisome. It takes a long time for driving on the left to feel natural to Americans. The fact that the steering wheel is also on the “wrong” side will help you feel better (or worse) immediately. Don’t worry; you will stop trying to get in on the left side of the car after just a few weeks time. 

If you're planning on driving in the UK, you may want to invest in some van insurance before you go. Driving on the "wrong" side of the road may prompt you to look into getting budget van insurance right away instead of waiting for direct van insurance.

Taking a few driving lessons might be helpful, but mostly what you will need is practice, and lots of it. I suggest starting in places which don’t have much traffic so that you can concentrate on staying left. A huge lorry (that means truck in American) can be intimidating and something to avoid hitting at all costs. 

Going around corners at first is tricky when your inclination is to end up in the right lane. Round-abouts are also new to most Americans, and children in the back seat will definitely not be helpful. The other thing to be aware of is that most English cars are equipped with standard transmissions. Are you familiar with the word “clutch?” If you think this just means what you do the night before taking a test, you might want to learn to use a standard transmission before you even leave the US. Definitely check out the traffic rules as well as the parking regulations. Your American driver’s license will be good for six months. If you will be in England for a longer period of time, you will need to get an English license. Sorry, but that includes a road test. Or you can get an international license through AAA before you leave the US, which will be good for a year. (I’m not sure of the accuracy of that last bit about licensing; if writing for real I would check this out too.)

 If you are going to live in England, you might find yourselves in a place where you will welcome the opportunity to leave your wheels behind. I can’t imagine even wanting a car in London nor can I imagine finding a parking place there. Public transportation in some locations is truly a better way to get around. Talk about sticker shock; wait until you see the price of petrol, that substance Americans prefer to call “gas.” Cars are just not as mandatory in England as they are in the US. Remember that old fashioned thing called “walking?” It does have possibilities. 

If you need to get behind the wheel, go for it. In time you will be cruising along like everyone else on the left side of the road and your palms will barely be sweaty. People make the transition back and forth all the time, and many are still alive. Count me for one, and good luck to you! -- Linda Byard

~~~|H-n-T|~~~

Hi hints-n tips
Drive on the left and save lives, what the USA government will  not tell you

I read your interesting information about driving on the left, I would put it this way:

In the UK  we of course drive on the left. I think we should always drive on the left because driving on the left is correct for right handed people which is the great majority, please read on.

Keep your right hand on the steering wheel when changing gear if you are right handed.

When changing gear in a UK car with the steering wheel on the right , which is of course correct in the UK etc for driving on the left---------in the UK your left hand changes  gear and your right hand stays  on the steering wheel.------------ this is safer  for right handed people.

The reverse is the case in countries where one must drive on the right.-- in other words if you live in the USA you hold the steering wheel with your left hand and change gear with your right hand because of course the steering wheel is on the  left in the USA--------this is  dangerous if you are  right handed.

Bicycles.   Bike riders are in real danger in countries where driving on the right is mandatory again assuming you are right handed------Try mounting a bike  in  the USA  and you will find yourself in the stream of traffic when getting on the bike---- try it  yourself---------:    Mounting a bike in the UK is done from the sidewalk by right handed people  who find it easier to put their right leg over the bike. , Much safer and this  must have saved many lives.

Reversing up a steep drive:  My drive in the UK is very steep----------when I reverse out I hold the steering wheel with my right hand and look over my left shoulder to the rear window.   In a USA car you must hold the steering wheel with your left hand and look over your right shoulder to look out of the rear window.. So you must reverse with your left hand  on the steering wheel.. Or stick your head out of  the window if you want to use your right hand on the steering wheel. ---dangerous for the majority who are right handed.

OK for left handed people to drive on the right---lucky them  Yours sincerely  Christopher (Chris)  Davison  London  UK

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Chris
Many thanks for your contribution. In your postingt you raise several very interesting points. Lets see if our American cousins see sense and get back on the right side (left, I mean) I am sure that we can expect some comments!

Dave Webmaster
www.hints-n-tips.com

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Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply, if a debate starts I would be very pleased to contribute. The sad thing is that whole countries including the USA are denied this information because it would "embarrass" national
thinking and education. They should give a rational answer to the points raised and an honest reply.

I think it was Sweden which actually converted to the right side driving not so long ago, perhaps because of the EU, the same EU which has the nerve to tell us that the English word
for chocolate must mean chocolate with a certain coca butter content, even in the English language. - Regards Chris

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Driving a Standard or Manual Transmission Vehicle - Another useful article written by Kyle Busch.  Driving a "stick shift" transmission is not that difficult if you concentrate on using your left foot.
Read more

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